In a harrowing incident in El Empalme, Ecuador, gunmen stormed La Clínica bar, leading to the death of 17 individuals, including a 12-year-old boy, and leaving 14 others injured. This violence underscores the troubling escalation of drug-related crime in the country.
Seventeen Lives Lost as Gunmen Strike Bar in Ecuador's El Empalme
Seventeen Lives Lost as Gunmen Strike Bar in Ecuador's El Empalme
A tragic mass shooting in Ecuador leaves 17 dead, including a child, as drug violence escalates in the region.
In the late hours of Sunday, gunfire erupted at La Clínica bar, as assailants in two pickup trucks unleashed chaos on the patrons. Police Major Oscar Valencia detailed that the gunmen used a combination of pistols and rifles, and they brutally fired upon a fleeing crowd. Among those who tragically perished was a young boy who, in a desperate effort to escape, ran over a kilometer before collapsing from his wounds.
Images and reports from the scene depict a devastating sight, with numerous bodies blanketed in white sheets lying on the streets, and local authorities discovered at least 40 bullet casings scattered across the ground, indicating the ferocity of the attack. Witnesses recounted hearing the assailants shout "active wolves," which is believed to refer to a local gang contesting for control of the drug trafficking routes in the area.
This horrific event is part of a broader pattern of violence in Guayas province, which has been at the epicenter of Ecuador's spiraling drug conflict. Just a week prior, gunmen killed nine individuals at a different bar in the same region, with police describing the victims as "collateral victims."
In response to the alarming surge in violence, President Daniel Noboa declared an all-out war on organized crime in 2022. Despite these measures, Ecuador's homicide rate has skyrocketed to 38 per 100,000 people in 2024. Official data revealed that in the first five months of 2025 alone, Ecuador recorded over 4,051 homicides.
The growing turmoil in Ecuador cannot be overstated, as it is reported that nearly three-quarters of the world's cocaine production transits through the nation, highlighting the severe and complex challenges facing the country. The recent extradition of powerful drug lord 'Fito' to the United States further complicates the situation.
Images and reports from the scene depict a devastating sight, with numerous bodies blanketed in white sheets lying on the streets, and local authorities discovered at least 40 bullet casings scattered across the ground, indicating the ferocity of the attack. Witnesses recounted hearing the assailants shout "active wolves," which is believed to refer to a local gang contesting for control of the drug trafficking routes in the area.
This horrific event is part of a broader pattern of violence in Guayas province, which has been at the epicenter of Ecuador's spiraling drug conflict. Just a week prior, gunmen killed nine individuals at a different bar in the same region, with police describing the victims as "collateral victims."
In response to the alarming surge in violence, President Daniel Noboa declared an all-out war on organized crime in 2022. Despite these measures, Ecuador's homicide rate has skyrocketed to 38 per 100,000 people in 2024. Official data revealed that in the first five months of 2025 alone, Ecuador recorded over 4,051 homicides.
The growing turmoil in Ecuador cannot be overstated, as it is reported that nearly three-quarters of the world's cocaine production transits through the nation, highlighting the severe and complex challenges facing the country. The recent extradition of powerful drug lord 'Fito' to the United States further complicates the situation.
